Many California drivers have heard of the risks of using a handheld cell
phone while driving or of texting while driving. However, many have not
seen recent research that indicates that a hands-free device doesn’t
reduce the risk of talking on a cell phone while driving. It’s the
conversation, not the use of one’s hands, that increases the risk
for a crash.

The study by the National Safety Council (NSC) revealed some troubling
statistics:

Car accidents cause about
40,000 deaths and
2.2 million injuries on U.S. roads each year. About
21 percent of all death- and injury-causing accidents involve someone talking on
a cell phone – about
three percent involve texting.

Over
90 percent of Americans now have a cell phone subscription. Nearly all adults have
cell phone service, and most carry their phones with them when they drive.

Nine percent of drivers on the roads at any given time are talking on their cell phones.
Sixty percent of respondents to one poll admitted talking on their cell phones while
driving in the past thirty days, and over
thirty percent say they do so almost daily.

Talking on a cell phone increases one’s chances of causing a crash by
37 percent. This number remains the same whether the phone is hand-held or hands-free.

At Caputo & Van Der Walde LLP, our experienced San Jose distracted
driving accident attorneys are ready to help after a crash. We’ll
protect your legal rights as we investigate your accident thoroughly and
fight for the compensation you need. Contact us today for a free and confidential
consultation by calling (800) 900-0863 or visiting us online.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.